December 25, 2008
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CHRIST IS BORN!!
In the twenty-fifth day of the month of December;
in the year five-thousand one-hundred and ninety-nine from the creation of the world, when in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth;
in the year two-thousand nine-hundred and fifty-seven from the flood;
in the year two-thousand and fifty-one from the birth of Abraham;
in the year one-thousand five-hundred and ten from the going forth of the people of Israel out of Egypt under Moses;
in the year one-thousand and thirty-two from the anointing of David as king;
in the sixty-fifth week according to the prophecy of Daniel;
in the one-hundred and ninety-fourth Olympiad; in the year seven-hundred and fifty-two from the foundation of the city of Rome;
in the forty-second year of the reign of the Emperor Octavian Augustus; in the sixtieth age of the world, while the whole earth was at peace–
JESUS CHRIST eternal God and the Son of the eternal Father, willing to consecrate the world by His gracious coming, having been conceived of the Holy Ghost, and the nine months of His conception being now accomplished, was born in Bethlehem of Judah of the Virgin Mary, and made man.
The birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to the flesh.
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Comments (36)
Merry Christmas!
@walkintotheseaaa - Just part of the heritage and tradition you will hopefully inherit some day! Most Catholic Churches read this at the beginning of the Midnight Mass on Christmas Day/at the end of Christmas Eve. At the St. Louis Cathedral Basilica a priest sang it and it was just lovely.
Merry Christmas & Octave!
Are both paintings by the same artist? the Christ child looks the same.
@living_embers - They are both by William-Adolphe Bouguereau, one of my all-time favorite artists!
And merry Christmas and octave to you, too!
What a fabulous post! I hope you had a very wonderful and Merry Christmas! The pictures are lovely!
Oops, forgot something…
… Ah, that’s better!
That priest has an amazing voice! He was the same one who sang the Gospel, right? Oh how wonderful it was to hear the Gospel sung!!!
And, dearest… Check the first line there.
This is very pretty. I have a question about it though. I don’t know if you wrote this, or someone else did so I may sound stupid and I probably don’t really understand the meaning of part of what is said. But, anyway, you wrote:
“in the year five-thousand one-hundred and ninety-nine from the creation of the world, when in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth;”
My understanding of the teachings of the Church is that we reject the idea of setting a date of creation. Maybe I just don’t fully understand, and I looked for an applicable paragraph of the CCC and I think 284 applies:
“284 The great interest accorded to these studies is strongly stimulated by a question of another order, which goes beyond the proper domain of the natural sciences. It is not only a question of knowing when and how the universe arose physically, or when man appeared, but rather of discovering the meaning of such an origin: is the universe governed by chance, blind fate, anonymous necessity, or by a transcendent, intelligent and good Being called “God”? And if the world does come from God’s wisdom and goodness, why is there evil? Where does it come from? Who is responsible for it? Is there any liberation from it?”
Anyway, I just wanted to get your thoughts on this. It’s not an area of Church teaching that I am very familiar with.
I hope you have had a blessed Christmas.
@maje_charis - I copied verbatim and figured it said “twenty-fourth” because he was born in the night. But I changed it in case my source had it incorrect, and it’ll make more sense for folks that way. And the priest did have a great voice! I love it when the Gospel is chanted.
@scramBledmegZntoasT - I was waiting for someone to ask! This is an older translation of the Christmas Proclamation, part of the Roman Martyrology for Dec. 24th, the newer of which replaces the number of years from creation with, “Unknown ages from the time when God created the heavens and the earth and then formed man and woman in his own image,” and also replaces the line about the flood with, “Several thousand years after the flood, when God made the rainbow shine forth as a sign of the covenant.” I decided to go with this older translation just to illustrate more clearly the historical context of the birth of Christ. I believe that the dates in this older translation are based off of the Hebrew calendar. Again, excellent point! And I think you and I are on the same page when it comes to the Church’s answer to the question of the Big When- “God knows!” And thank God!
The Christmas Proclamation is chanted/sung by many churches at the Midnight Mass after Christmas Eve. I hope you are blessed one day to hear it; it is my next favorite to the Exultet sung at the Easter Vigil!!
@Ancient_Scribe -
Ahhh. That makes sense, now. I don’t remember this from Mass this AM, but I was a little distracted at times so I don’t think I paid as close attention as I should have. Thanks!
Well, some churches follow Rome closely and do things like this proclamations, others joke about us Traddies who complain to Rome, and actually say in the sermon/homily “Just don’t write to Rome about the things we don’t do correctly.” I’d say Mahony is feeling a little too much heat near the seat of his pants (or would-be-cassock).
Your words are exactly how language should be used. It gives to God the greater honor and glory He alone deserves. (It always has!) So…thank you and Joyous Christmas to you.
GraceAnn
@Ancient_Scribe -
I could have sworn it said the twenty-fifth… All well! Christ is born, all the same!
Happy Feast Day of St. Stephen the Martyr!
@maje_charis - the 1st line of the proclaimation? It does say “twenty-fifth”. Is that what you’re talking about?
@living_embers - At first it was “twenty-fourth” because it was what the text I was copying from said. But I changed it to prevent future confusion. Looks like it ended up happening anyways!!!!
Ah, yes please! That would be awesome!
Thanks.
Interesting timeline…where did you get this from?
@tenshii_rage - It is one that is traditionally sung at the Midnight Mass at the end of Christmas Eve/beginning of Christmas Day. It is called the Christmas Proclamation and has been sung by the Catholic Church for a very, very long time!
I thought it sounded familiar. I didn’t go the midnight mass at all last year, and this year I was a bit sleepy, so I might ahve not heard it.
Saw your tracks.
@Kate_Hutchinson - I saw your comment on Revelife.
Naturally, I wanted to check out my fellow “agree-ers.”
@Ancient_Scribe - oh. I started to comment, then realized someone had already answered my question, so I deleted the statement.
@Kate_Hutchinson - Hey, it’s just nice having a friend out there!!
@Ancient_Scribe - Indeed – it’s a stark and cold world. There’s warmth in the Sun.
cool! New profile pic.
@living_embers -
I thought it was time; my high school senior photo had run its course.
@Ancient_Scribe - well the only place my mug shot is up is Facebook
Wow. You sure got an accurate date there!
By the way, great new profile pic.
@LucyWrites - Thank you for both! The series of dates aren’t from me, but are from the Church. It is something that many churches sing at the Midnight Mass for Christmas. But, as I correctly guessed, many people have never heard of it before, so I decided to post it. Glad you enjoyed it!
I know you see my tracks a bit. I like the painting – someone re-did it for one of the naves (?) at my church, but the Lady isn’t as pretty and peaceful as she is here.
btw – do you think my characters come across as human?
i do not believe that he was born on December 25th, and there is much history surrounding why that day was chosen.
I believe it is good to celebrate his birth, but that day, that day is not so good.
@Kate_Hutchinson - Well it is hard to copy Bouguereau exactly; he was a MASTER painter. And of course your characters come off as human!
I found your site via a comment you left on one of the front page blogs. I really like your posts — you’ve got a great writing style — so I’ve subscribed! -Carly
Merry Christmas, lol.